At Prayagraj's Naini Central Jail, the season of religious fasts give us an opportunity to view a spectacular picture of communal harmony.

When some Muslim prisoners joined Hindus in Navratri fast, some Hindus reciprocated this behaviour by joining the Muslim brothers in their holy fasting month of Ramzan.

Many Muslims this time did keep a fast on the first day of Navratri. Similarly, Hindus also kept Roza this time. The Muslims followed the Hindu rituals and are expecting to continue fasting straight for the remaining nine days. While some are expected to fast on the last day of Navratri.

The Jail Superintendent at Naini Central Jail revealed that proper arrangements have been made for both Hindu and Muslim inmates. Every Muslim inmate observing fast is being offered 750 gm potato, two bananas, 500 gm milk and 60 gm sugar. Similarly, inmates observing roza will be offered evening meals with additional diet like 200 gm milk, two bananas, 30 gm dates, biscuits etc.

The inmates observing fast are also involved in singing bhajanas and devotional songs of different religions respectively. They were all excited to participate and perform all rituals. The inmates like woke up early in the morning, took bath and did prayers before the deity. Many fasting inmates also recited Durga Saptashati and singing of hymns will be a part of their religious routine for the remaining days of the Navratri. To note, they are being allowed to perform all rituals keeping in mind the discipline and security norms of the jail.

Though religions are fundamentally different still the idea connoted by them is more or less the same. Hindus observing Roza or Muslims observing the fasts of Navratri should be normalized. It's just a matter of religion which was always there to worship collective effervescence.

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Reference:

• m.timesofindia.com